Anton Ferdinand Titz

Anton Ferdinand Titz (also Tietz ) (* 1742 in Nuremberg, † December 25 1810 in St. Petersburg ) was a German violinist and composer, who composed mainly chamber music in the style of Viennese Classicism.

Life and work

Through the mediation of his friend Christoph Willibald Gluck, he got a job as a violinist in the Vienna Opera Orchestra, but was followed in 1771 an invitation Pyotr Alexandrovich Sojmonows to Saint Petersburg, where he was a member of the court orchestra, and chamber musician, he was also a violin teacher of the future Tsar Alexander I.

Louis Spohr visited him in 1803 and wrote in his memoirs about him later:

" Now Is Titz no great violinist, much less the greatest of all time, as his admirers claim that he is still undoubtedly a musical genius, as evidenced by his compositions well. "

Titz was known during his lifetime as a musician and composer throughout Europe, was in contact with Mozart and Haydn in Vienna and led the major genre, the string quartet in his adopted hometown of Russia. From 1797 Titz was mentally ill and found 1805 recording in the house of the patron Grigori Teplow, but continued to perform in concerts in appearance.

His works include symphonies, concertos, 12 string quartets, violin sonatas, instrumental duets and songs.